Are Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic? (Find Out Now!)

Designer breed dogs are only growing in popularity as people recognize the benefits of breeding two distinct dog breeds together.

The Goldendoodle is a popular dog that mixes a Golden Retriever with a Poodle.

The resulting dog has soft curly fur, is loving and affectionate, and is incredibly athletic, making it a well-suited dog for any family.

Goldendoodles are not hypoallergenic dogs. In truth, there is no such thing as entirely hypoallergenic dogs because urine and dander proteins can trigger allergies.

If you live in a household with allergy sufferers and are hoping to add a hypoallergenic dog to your family, you may want to consider a different pet.

It is essential to understand that even though one parent of a Goldendoodle may be hypoallergenic, nothing is guaranteeing the genes from the Poodle will pass to the puppy.

There is a good chance that a Goldendoodle may end up with fur more closely related to a Golden Retriever, which sheds a moderate amount.

Every Goldendoodle dog is an individual, and it is important to meet your puppy before adoption.

If you are prone to pet allergies, spending time with the perspective puppy will help you determine if the specific dog has inherited hypoallergenic traits.

What Causes Pet Allergies?

Many people believe that pet allergies are only caused by excessive fur or dander from the dog’s coat. While this is primarily true, it is not entirely true.

Pet allergies actually stem from particular proteins found in the pet’s body. Proteins that cause allergies are mostly found in fur and dander but can also be found in pet saliva, urine, or feces.

Understanding where pet allergies come from is important when choosing a dog.

If you have existing pet allergies related to the dog’s saliva, even finding a hypoallergenic dog won’t help prevent symptoms from forming.

Before adopting a dog, even a hypoallergenic dog, it is a good idea to have an allergy test performed with your doctor to determine the true nature of your pet’s allergies.

What Is Pet Dander?

The word “dander” is commonly used when talking about pet allergies, but what actually is dander? Every animal, humans included, is capable of producing dander.

Cats, dogs, rodents, and even birds can produce different amounts of dander. Pet dander consists of tiny, microscopic bits of skin that are shed.

Even dogs considered hypoallergenic will still shed some small amount of dander as part of keeping healthy skin and a healthy coat.

Within the microscopic skin flakes, there are tiny proteins. These proteins are what cause an allergic reaction in people.

Hypoallergenic dogs tend to have a lower protein concentration in the skin, but it can still cause an allergic reaction.

Are Goldendoodles A Good Option For People With Allergies?

Compared to other dog breeds, a Goldendoodle may be an excellent choice for people who suffer from pet allergies.

Dogs that have a thick, double coat, like a Husky or Newfoundland, are heavy shedders, increasing the amount of fur and dander in the home.

Golden Retrievers are moderate shedders, and Poodles rarely shed, making a potentially wonderful combination for allergy sufferers.

While many Goldendoodles are advertised as hypoallergenic, the term can really only be applied to certain dogs.

Some Goldendoodles may be very light shedders, while others may shed just as much as a standard dog.

Understand that a Goldendoodle may be a good choice for allergy sufferers, with caution, appreciating that every single dog is different.

But Aren’t Poodles Hypoallergenic?

Although no dog is truly considered hypoallergenic, Poodles are generally regarded as a safe pets for people who suffer from pet allergies.

Poodles do not produce a great deal of dander and do not shed, limiting the allergy-causing fur floating through your home environment.

Just because a Poodle is considered hypoallergenic, it does not guarantee that a Poodle mix will also be hypoallergenic. In a designer dog breed mix, genes are inherited from both the mother and father dog.

Because you can never be sure which parent will have the dominant trait for the fur type, getting a hybrid dog that only has one hypoallergenic parent does not guarantee a hypoallergenic dog.

While not guaranteed to be hypoallergenic, a Goldendoodle is more likely to be hypoallergenic than a standard Golden Retriever.

Are There Other Poodle Mixes Available?

Creating a designer-breed dog with a Poodle often creates a desirable outcome. Not only are Poodles highly intelligent and athletic but they are often considered hypoallergenic.

Their soft, curly fur doesn’t shed as much as other dog breeds, making this a desirable trait to pass on to puppies.

Poodles have been bred with Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Old English Sheepdogs, Cocker Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, and Schnauzers.

While a Poodle mix does increase the likelihood that a puppy will be hypoallergenic, it is not guaranteed. Every dog is an individual and will inherit different genes from the parent dogs.

If you are considering any of the breeds above, and suffer from allergies, choosing a Poodle hybrid mix will give you a higher chance of finding a hypoallergenic dog that will not irritate your pet allergies.

What Other Hypoallergenic Dogs Exist?

Simply because a dog is labeled hypoallergenic does not guarantee that you will not experience allergy symptoms. Hypoallergenic dogs are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction but still shed and produce dander, just like any other dog.

If you don’t want to risk the chance of your Goldendoodle shedding, you may want to consider a different hypoallergenic dog. Some excellent choices include:

• Poodle – The Poodle is a wonderful option for allergy sufferers because they are very light shedders. The Poodle ranges in size from a Toy Poodle to a Standard Poodle. This intelligent and athletic dog is often mixed with other breeds, like the Goldendoodle, to create designer dogs that have the potential of also being hypoallergenic.
• Schnauzer – Like the Poodle, the Schnauzer ranges in size from a Miniature Schnauzer to a Giant Schnauzer. This robust dog has a tightly curled coat that lightly sheds, making it a suitable option for people allergic to pet fur and dander.
• Portuguese Water Dog – For those looking for a fun-loving, athletic, and affectionate dog, the Portuguese Water Dog makes a wonderful choice. This dog reaches about 50 pounds and has a coat that rarely sheds.
• Wheaten Terrier – The Wheaten Terrier has a light-colored coat that is long and soft. The coat only sheds lightly, which helps reduce the number of allergens in your home. The Wheaten Terrier is intelligent and athletic, and perfect for families.
• Yorkshire Terrier – The Yorkshire Terrier is a wonderful, hypoallergenic dog well suited for apartment life. This small dog rarely reaches 10 pounds and is happy with just a short, daily walk. Even though this dog has long fur, its small size and light shedding makes it ideal for allergy sufferers.
• Maltese – This small, compact dog is ideal for people who suffer from pet allergies. The snow-white fur rarely sheds, and its small size helps to manage the amount of hair and dander floating through your home.

Will Grooming Help with Allergies?

Since there is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog, it is possible to still have issues with pet allergies, even with a hybrid dog such as a Goldendoodle.

Regular grooming can help mitigate pet allergies and limit the amount of hair and dander circulating through the home.

Be sure to brush your Goldendoodle regularly to remove any loose or dead hair from the fur at least two times per week. You’ll also want to bathe your dog regularly.

Be sure to clean your dog about once a month to remove dead skin cells, dander, and loose fur.

Never bathe your dog more frequently than once per month. Too much soap and scrubbing can remove the natural oils from the fur, causing dry skin and more dander to accumulate through your home.

Related Questions

When was the Goldendoodle developed?

Although the Goldendoodle may have only recently become a popular designer dog seen in homes throughout the country, this dog has been around for more than 50 years.

The first Goldendoodle was developed in 1969 and was bred to be a guide dog.

The high intelligence of the Poodle, mixed with the affectionate nature of a Golden Retriever created the ultimate mixed breed dog.

During the 1990s, the hybrid dog really became popular because of the non-shedding Poodle qualities mixed with the good-natured temperament of a Golden Retriever.

How big will a Goldendoodle get?

Because a Goldendoodle is a hybrid mix breed, sizes are never standard. You’ll never know what genes, many of which impact overall size, will be inherited from the parent dogs.

In general, though, a Goldendoodle is about 17 to 21 inches to the shoulder and will weigh between 50 and 90 pounds as an adult.

The majority of Goldendoodles will be around 50 pounds, while the larger varieties will border 100 pounds. Female Goldendoodles tend to be slightly smaller than males.